“We should be in positions that can join in the decision-making. It’s time,” says Benedicte Molnes, 22, from Norway. “We’re still facing so many issues, not just health issues, but disasters, world issues. It’s our lives at the end of the day,” adds Ania Sauku, 20, from Albania.
In Tirana, the European Youth Capital 2022, the first-ever WHO/Europe Youth4Health forum, brought together 500 young people from 30 countries, along with 200 other delegates representing government, United Nations and civil society partners.
The forum, held on 25–27 October, was all about youth health and well-being, and their engagement in decision-making. WHO/Europe convened the forum in partnership with the Albanian Ministry of Health and Social Protection, the Office of the Albanian Minister of State for Youth and Children, the Municipality of Tirana and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Participants agreed on a blueprint for follow-up actions.
Five actions to increase youth engagement in health decision-making
- Advocating for young people in all their diversity to be partners in decisions concerning their health and well-being.
- Removing barriers, and promoting and advancing opportunities for meaningful engagement of young people in all areas and across all sectors.
- Empowering those who are not often heard or seen (addressing intersecting inequalities) by actively seeking their participation, creating safe, youth-friendly spaces and using inclusive ways to ensure that everyone can share their opinions and experiences.
- Creating spaces where intergenerational collaboration and conversations can take place and yield results.
- Supporting the launch of WHO/Europe’s youth network at the 73rd session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe, to include youth perspectives in all areas of WHO/Europe’s work, as well as a biennial youth health and well-being forum.
Five actions to improve youth health and well-being
- Raising awareness of health and well-being issues that matter to and affect us all, particularly those related to young people and their futures.
- Working together to promote and create healthy and sustainable environments that directly address current health and climate issues and risks.
- Working together across sectors and disciplines to find innovative solutions to complex issues that affect us all; for example, issues such as the health effects of climate change or extended conflicts.
- Putting into practice the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic – to become more resilient and better prepared for future crises, including combating the spread of harmful misinformation.
- Collaborating to improve frameworks, systems, strategies and programmes in place for long-term, evidence-informed and people-centred health policies that can be adopted at all levels.
As Alice Brito, 20, from Portugal explains: “I expect some change”.
WHO/Europe will set out to build its new Youth4Health network and together with youth organizations will follow up on these actions. The aim is clear: engaging young people in decisions about their health and well-being.